Reports of Office) s of the Society. 87 



specimens^ with locality, in the departments of Botany, Con- 

 chology, and Palaeontology. In these departments not only are 

 new specimens needed but duplicates as well, for lack of which 

 many desirable exchanges have had to be passed by. Though 

 there is quite a quantity of duplicate material much of it is worth- 

 less for exchange purposes, wanting both name and locality. In 

 answer to appeals for such material, liberal contributions have been 

 received from Mr. C. L. Faber, Mr. A. Freed of Lancaster, Mr. 

 Shepherd of Mason, and Capt. M. M. Murphy of Ripley, O. 



This question of duplicate material has become quite a serious 

 one in connection with the continuance and extension of the work 

 of the Society abroad, and it is hoped that the officers and mem- 

 bers will take the subject into serious consideration. Several 

 changes have been made about the museum which have added to 

 its appearance and increased the space for display of specimens. 

 The room at the end of the hallway on the first floor, which had 

 been used as a store-room, has been cleared of cases and all ma- 

 terial stored there. The walls and ceiling have been cleaned and 

 painted, the floor covered with linoleum, and the entire room im- 

 proved in a style befitting a vestibule to the artistic apartments of 

 the Photographic Section. In order to provide for the quantity of 

 material thus deprived of storage room, about 200 ft. of shelving 

 has been placed in the basement, which is sufftcjent for all present 

 needs. The cases which previously have occupied space in the 

 lecture room and hallway have been removed to the second and 

 third floors. 



The work indicated above has been done in accordance with 

 the instructions of the Building Committee. 



VISITORS. 



It is gratifying to report that the museum is constantly becom. 

 ing better known as a place of public interest; this is indicated by 

 the increasing numbers of visitors. About 1500 have passed 

 through the rooms during the past eight months, exclusive of the 

 large number who have attended the lectures. These visitors 

 represented 22 States of the Union, and one foreign country. 

 The largest number of visitors of any one day, was on Sept. 27, 

 when 115 were recorded. The Society will be greatly benefited 

 by thus extending the circle of its aquaintances, and all proper 

 means will be employed to attract visitors. 



